Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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1629. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to make 6 December a national holiday to commemorate the signing of the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland in 1921 (details supplied). [15082/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 was signed on 6th December by the British and Irish delegates in London in the aftermath of the truce which ended the War of Independence.  The signing of the 1921 Treaty is recognised as one of the seminal moments on Ireland's journey towards self-determination and independence. 

The Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations is currently finalising the advice that it will provide to Government to inform how the State will approach the remembrance of these complex and sensitive events over the remainder of the Decade of Centenaries.  The State's approach to the appropriate remembrance of this difficult period in our history will be guided at all times by the expertise of the Advisory Group and the principles expressed in the Group's Second Statement, which can be found on my Department's website. 

My Department will continue to consult and collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including the local authority network, in developing the State commemorative programme over the remainder of the Decade.